Comet barked again.
She gave Comet a look. “Seriously? A tie? You’re no help at all.” When she looked around the room and saw all the Santa’s staring at her, she grabbed the other Abominable Snowman–looking boot and pulled off the Santa boot.
“I’ve had enough of Santa Claus. This one will have to do.”
When she looked out her window and saw Luke pacing around waiting for her, she picked up her pace.
“Okay,” she said. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Comet barked again when she quickly grabbed her own black scarf and black leather jacket and zipped out the bedroom door.
By the time she got outside, Luke was shoveling all the fresh snow off the walkway to the lodge.
“Sorry,” she said. “It took me a few minutes to figure out what would . . . fit.”
She stopped in her tracks when she saw the one lone Christmas tree in the middle of the lake still had all its lights turned on, even though it was daylight. Scanning the edge of the lake, she noticed it was the only tree that was still lit up.
She turned to Luke. “What’s with that one tree? Why are the lights still on?”
“They’re always on.” Luke followed her gaze. “I’ll show you around down by the lake later. It’s always a favorite place for our guests.”
Riley held up one foot and wiggled it, all the white fur from the Abominable Snowman boot swaying back and forth. “Okay, I’m ready. I’m wearing your mom’s boots, even though I’m pretty sure a yeti called and wants his feet back.”
Luke laughed for a moment but then looked at what else she was wearing and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Riley asked, checking out her outfit.
“The boots are great, but where’s your coat? Why didn’t you wear one of my mom’s?”
Riley tried to think fast. How could she tell him that the only thing worse than the ugly sweater and the yeti boots were his mom’s huge puffy coats that were way too big on her? She figured her leather coat would be just fine for a quick trip into town where she could buy herself a winter coat that didn’t make her feel like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
“I’m good,” was all she came up with to say. “Let’s go.”
As she made her way to the truck, she had to laugh. This wasn’t just any ordinary truck. The vintage pickup truck was painted bright red and had a huge wreath on the front grill that matched the wreaths on the house. There were even blinking, white LED lights on the dashboard.
“Wow, you guys really go all-out at Christmas here,” Riley said before climbing into the truck.
Luke headed back to the lodge. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay,” she said. She was thankful the truck was running because her hands were freezing. As she tried to warm her hands by the dashboard heat vents, she accidently knocked down a strand of twinkling Christmas lights.
“Oops,” she muttered as she quickly bent over to pick the lights up. One end got tangled around the gear stick, its lights still blinking. She had just gotten the one end free when the other end got wrapped around one of her boots. When she tried to lift up her boot in the limited space, it only made things worse. Now the lights were caught up in her other boot and getting stuck in all the fur.
She was still struggling to free herself from the stubborn Christmas lights when Luke returned.
He laughed loudly. “Well, what happened here?”
Riley gave him a frustrated look. “Seriously, help me out here. Every time I move, I get more tangled up in these lights. They’re grabbing on to my boots and not letting go.”
Luke laughed again. “You make it sound like they’re out to get you.”
“Aren’t they?” Riley asked, sounding serious.
“They’re Christmas lights,” Luke said as he got in and tried to help her lift up one boot. “They’re supposed to make you happy.”
Riley laughed. “Well, I’ll be happy when I’m not in Christmas-light jail anymore.”
As Luke continued to help with her boot, she fell back onto the seat, sending her one boot sticking straight up in the air.
It was not a dignified position.
Embarrassed, she tried to sit up but only made things worse when she accidently smacked Luke’s shoulder with her sky-high boot.
“Oh no!” Riley gasped. “I am so sorry . . .”
Luckily, Luke just laughed. He seemed completely amused by her whole tangled mess.
Finally, Riley gave in to the sheer ridiculousness of the situation and started laughing, too. “I give up,” she said. “These crazy lights win. I should have worn the Santa boots.”
“Okay, don’t move. I got this,” Luke said as he leaned down to get a closer look at her boots. They were both now back on the floor. A second later, he sat back up, holding the string of lights above his head victoriously. “Ta-da!” He chuckled. “You just needed to have the right touch.”
“No way!” Riley gave the lights an incredulous look. “How did you do that?”
“Christmas magic,” Luke said as he tossed the lights back onto the dashboard.
“Of course.” Riley laughed.
As Luke started to pull out of the long driveway, Riley glanced around the vintage truck. Hanging from the rearview mirror was a collection of dangling silver stars.
“You even decorate your truck,” she said.
Luke smiled back at her. “Oh, no. This little beauty is my mom’s, not mine. She uses this truck all year long. She says it’s one of the ways she likes to keep the Christmas spirit alive.”
Even in the summer?” Riley asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
“Especially in the summer. Haven’t you heard of Christmas in July?”
“You’re kidding me,” Riley said, convinced he was just messing with her.
“No way. Christmas in July is a thing,” Luke said.
“If you say so,” she said. “So how far is it to town?”
“Only about two miles,” Luke said. “It’s so close you can cross-country ski or snowshoe into town.”
Luke pulled the truck
